Community is creating stained glass window

WORKS of stained glass by people living on Exmoor have been on public display in the Moorland Hall, Wheddon Cross.
The mini exhibition was part of a Creative Communities project for some of the rural villages of Exmoor which is being run by West Somerset arts consortium ARTlife.
ARTlife has received funding from the Arts Council England South West to run Creative Communities and the stained glass project is the first to be held.
For several months, 27 local people have been joining stained glass worker Avril Silk in the Moorland Hall to learn how to make their own small pieces.
They have also started to plan a final, larger piece which will be a stained glass window for the recently refurbished village hall.
The exhibition gave people an opportunity to view and comment on the proposed design for the hall window. Coffee and mince pies were also on offer.
Project co-ordinator Jan Ross said: “We have been delighted with the response from so many members of the community.
“Young people have been involved, as well as some of the more senior members of the village.
“They have had to work hard on their designs and, during the making, getting to grips with the art of cutting glass and soldering.
“It is an art form that has appealed to so many, and some of the participants will be helping Avril in making the final piece, too.”
ARTlife has worked in partnership with West Somerset Council during the past six years to develop an arts service run for and by the people of the district, working in many different ways.
The Creative Communities project is a new and exciting stage of its development, by offering a community arts development service for the area.
Further information about Creative Communities is available from Jan Ross by telephoning 01398 323818 or emailing janaross2003@yahoo.co.uk.

• Our photographs show stained glass pieces made by (left) Sean Kendall and Matthew Fowler and (right) Dan Matravers and Alex Sparks. Photos by Mark the Photographer, ref M1218008 and M1218010. Order photo reprints online at www.tcpbymtp.co.uk.